108th Commencement Ceremony 2024

Dear Graduate:

Congratulations! You prevailed and completed your degree, and now you are graduating in CW’s 108th Commencement Ceremony. We all celebrate with you! We are proud of you and you, will always be a part of our CW family.

Alumni Resources – Keep in touch

Join the Alumni page on LinkedIn

Call 914.831.0495 or Email alumni@cw.edu

Career Services

Call 914.831.0400

By now you have probably met with CW’s Career Services Team. Whether you will be entering the workforce for the first time or have attended The College of Westchester to improve your skills for career advancement and promotion, the team is available to assist, and can help you navigate virtual and face-to-face interviews and connect with employers who are hiring now. There are many fantastic career opportunities for those who pursue them. Get out there and make it happen.

Refer a friend or family member

Please consider sharing your experience with a family member or friend who could benefit from a CW education. You know firsthand of CW’s “students come first” philosophy which extends beyond the classroom into every facet of our institution; this is truly what makes CW unique.

College of Westchester Charitable Foundation

Consider paying it forward. No donation is too small and you could help a fellow CW Warrior make it to the finish line. Some may be waiting for the world to change, but please remember that you should be the change that you envision for yourself.

Best wishes for an abundant and joyful future,

Karen J. Smith President & CEO

Keynote Speaker

Jewel Williams Johnson

Jewel Williams Johnson was re-elected to her 2nd term on the Westchester County Board of Legislators last November. She succeeded her mother, Alfreda Williams in 2021 to represent the 8th Legislative District.

Jewel serves as Chair of the Board of Legislators’ Committee on Budget & Appropriations, Sub-Committee on Health and the Non-Profit Taskforce. She also serves as the Vice Chair of the Committee on Human Services. She is the first since the inception of the Board to Chair the Committee on Budget & Appropriations in a first term. Jewel also serves on four other committees/taskforces: Housing & Planning, Labor & Human Rights, Public Works & Transportation and on the Families Taskforce. As Chair of the Sub-Committee on Health she ensures meetings highlight vital issues including Mental Health, Digital Access Inequities Contribute to Health Disparities, Domestic Violence, Infant Suffocation Education, Baby Formula Monopoly/Shortage, Fire Arm Injuries Are A Pediatric Public Health Crisis, Long COVID, Impact of Political Dividedness on Relationships, Suicide Prevention, Veterans Affairs, Denied Medicare Claims, Prescription Drugs Affordability, Maternal Health Disparities, Food Insecurity Amongst College Students & Mental Health Insurance Parity. As a direct result of her advocacy and efforts, the County’s 2023 and 2024 Budgets includes funding to reopen two of the County’s mental health clinics that were shut down in 2011 under the former administration. In her first year on the Board of Legislators Jewel was the primary sponsor on two pieces of legislation, the Gun Safety Signage Bill and the Flavored Tobacco Ban. Although, the Flavored Tobacco Ban was vetoed (a first by the County Executive), $3 million in funding has been specifically directed to non-profit organizations for public education campaigns and to facilitate cessation services.

Jewel highly regards community involvement and has always been very active locally. She has volunteered and held many leadership positions. She is the immediate past president of the Westchester Black Women’s Political Caucus, Inc. (WBWPC); former member of the Westchester County Women's Advisory Board; guest lecturer on Politics at Lehman College; former Vice President, White Plains-Greenburgh Branch, NAACP; former Mentor Program Coordinator, Highview Elementary School; former Church Clerk & former President, Women's Ministry at Bethel Baptist Church; former Advisory Board Member, WCLA Choice Matters; former member, Town of Greenburgh Arts & Cultural Board and she is also an occasional contributor on Politics for The Westchester County Press to name a few. She is also a district leader with the Greenburgh Democratic Town Committee.

Jewel attended both SUNY College at Buffalo and CUNY Baruch College. Professionally, she recently retired from serving as an administrator at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center at New York-Presbyterian Hospital for over 15 years and she has a long history of administrative positions with a number of non-profit entities.

Jewel strives to always be accessible and attentive to citizens’ concerns. She grew up in Westchester, she is a product of the Greenburgh Central School District and considers herself extraordinarily blessed to live in Westchester with her husband, Lacy Johnson, her mother & their Dalmatian, Jasper.

Order of Exercises

ACADEMIC PROCESSION

GRAND MARSHAL

Dr. Chris Nwosisi

Professor & Associate Chairperson, The School of Information Technology

NATIONAL ANTHEM

Robin Newhook

Adjunct Instructor, School of Business

INVOCATION

Terence Keyes

Associate Professor, General Education

OPENING REMARKS

Karen J. Smith

President & Chief Executive Officer

INTRODUCTION OF KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Karen J. Smith

President & Chief Executive Officer

COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS

Jewel F. Williams Johnson

Westchester County Board Legislator

INTRODUCTION OF STUDENT SPEAKERS

Maria Gangi

Vice President of Student Services & Retention

STUDENT SPEAKERS

Dania Alwadi

BBA Degree, Day Graduate

Monique Green

BBA Degree, Online Graduate

PRESENTATION OF AWARDS

Karen J. Smith

President & Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Erica Schacht

Vice President of Academic Affairs & Dean of Faculty

Maria Gangi

Vice President of Student Services & Retention

Departmental Awards

The John F. Sterling Award in Business Administration

Luana Araya

Daniele Davis

Nicole Filder

Rashima McDonald Cathiann Murray Neranyi Roman

The John F. Sterling Award was established in 1986. This award recognizes outstanding Business Administration-Management/Marketing graduates in honor of Mr. Sterling. John F. Sterling is the former regional Vice President of South-Western Publishing Company and a long time friend of The College of Westchester. Throughout the years, Mr. Sterling made valuable contributions to the college. The College respects him as an individual with qualities that set him apart from the crowd. The student selected for this award must have the characteristics exemplified by Mr. Sterling: academic excellence in marketing, effective communication skills and an orientation toward sales.

The Marc Polcek Memorial Accounting Award

Madeline Gonzalez

Julie Lopez Rodriguez

Veronica McDonald

Yazaira Valenzuela-Vazquez

The Marc Polcek Memorial Accounting Award was established in 1999. This award recognizes outstanding Accounting graduates. The award is named in honor of Mr. Marc Polcek, a respected Accounting instructor and Chairperson who taught at The College of Westchester from 1976 to 1999. The student selected for this award must have the characteristics exemplified by Mr. Polcek: academic excellence in accounting, overall commitment to the college and to other students, and student leadership and/or community service.

The Excellence in Digital Media Award

Shawn Ofurhie

The Excellence in Digital Media Award was established in 2004. This award recognizes students who have demonstrated outstanding creativity, initiative, and commitment, while excelling beyond course and curriculum requirements. The recipients of this award also exhibit a genuine commitment to the College, as well as to other students and the community.

The Health Professions Award

Eva Graham Vorapong Keowongwan

Brianna Mezzone

Shereca Palmer

Amber Vasquez

Kerry-Ann Williams

This award recognizes outstanding graduates in the associate or bachelor’s degree in the Health Professions. The students selected for this award, in addition to demonstrating academic excellence, must also demonstrate that they have positively impacted the lives of other students on campus and people they have interacted with in their community

The Information Technology Award

Genevieve A. Arthur

Joseph Badke

Tiffany Batista Concepcion

Dajoni Gomez

Niall Pariag

Jennifer Ramos

This award recognizes outstanding Computer Network Administration Associate degree and Information Technology Bachelor degree graduates. The recipients are selected according to the following criteria: academic achievement and exceptional work ethic, overall service to the college, accomplishment of information technology certifications, attainment of relevant information about current industry issues, learning opportunities, best practices and standards, and insight that focuses on staying engaged and ahead in the IT industry.

General Excellence Awards

The Dr. Milton E. Cagan Memorial Awards

Mark Peter Agustin

Priscilla Christinan Alvarado-Rivera

Crystal Garcia

Taliyah Pemberton-Lorick

Madison Stewart

David Torres

The John F. Sterling Award was established in 1986. This award recognizes outstanding Business Administration-Management/Marketing graduates in honor of Mr. Sterling. John F. Sterling is the former regional Vice President of South-Western Publishing Company and a long time friend of The College of Westchester. Throughout the years, Mr. Sterling made valuable contributions to the college. The College respects him as an individual with qualities that set him apart from the crowd. The student selected for this award must have the characteristics exemplified by Mr. Sterling: academic excellence in marketing, effective communication skills and an orientation toward sales.

The CW Charitable Foundation Scolar's Award

Cindy Lopez

This award recognizes an outstanding graduate who is an acknowledged CWCF Scholar. The CW Charitable Foundation bestows scholarships to deserving students based on need and talent. The student selected for this award, in addition to being a scholarship recipient, will have demonstrated academic excellence, student leadership and a commitment to the college and to other students.

The CW Spirit and Student Leadership Award

Nicole Filder

Neranyi Roman

This award recognizes an outstanding graduate who is an acknowledged CWCF Scholar. The CW Charitable Foundation bestows scholarships to deserving students based on need and talent. The student selected for this award, in addition to being a scholarship recipient, will have demonstrated academic excellence, student leadership and a commitment to the college and to other students.

CW Student Leadership Award

Dania Alwadi

Taliyah Pemberton-Lorick

This award recognizes an outstanding graduate who is an acknowledged CWCF Scholar. The CW Charitable Foundation bestows scholarships to deserving students based on need and talent. The student selected for this award, in addition to being a scholarship recipient, will have demonstrated academic excellence, student leadership and a commitment to the college and to other students.

The CW Alumni Achievement Award

Felicia Conte

AWARDING OF CERTIFICATES & DEGREES

Karen J. Smith | President & Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Erica Schacht | Vice President of Academic Affairs & Dean of Faculty

ASSISTED BY

Maria Gangi | Vice President of Student Services & Retention

Trae Cooper | Chairperson and Professor, The School of Business

Dr. Shamva Wright-Shingler | Program Director, The School of Health Professions

Dr. Grace Bonanno | Chairperson & Professor of The School of Information Technology

MOVING OF THE TASSEL

Karen J. Smith | President & Chief Executive Officer

BENEDICTION

Terence Keyes | Associate Professor

RECESSIONAL

Alumni Award Recipient

Felicia Conte

Felicia graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 2017, and her Associate’s degree in the same field in 2016. While at CW, Felicia was on the Dean’s list, became a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and earned Honor’s status through CW’s Honors Program. Felicia was the recipient of a CWCF Honor’s Program Scholarship in 2017. She was also a work-study student in our Career Services department during her studies at CW.

After graduation, Felicia started her career as a buyer assistant and was quickly promoted to corporate buyer at Restaurant Depot. Subsequently, she transitioned to the field of advertising, joining ICON International, a specialized finance company. She moved up the ranks from Media Associate to Media Buyer within a year where she played a key role to ensuring that media campaigns effectively reached the highest number of people within a client’s target audience.

Felicia found her niche at Aston Carter in Stamford Connecticut, a distinguished world-class provider of recruitment and staffing services to companies requiring high caliber talent and premium services to over 7,000 companies across North America. Felicia is a Northeast Regional Recruiter where she serves as the main point of contact throughout the entire recruitment cycle. She plays a pivotal role in screening candidates and is responsible for identifying, evaluating, and selecting top talent.

Felicia is responsible for recruiting talent in the following areas of Creative & Marketing, Project Management, Human Resources, Talent Acquisition, and Supply Chain & Procurement. This September will mark her third year anniversary with Aston Carter. Make sure you give her a follow on LinkedIn!

Felicia says “The College of Westchester made her feel at home. The professors and staff reminded her of exactly what her father told her each and every day that everything she accomplished at CW was for her own benefit and her future.”

School of Business

Candidates for Associate Degrees

ACCOUNTING (AAS)

ACCOUNTING FOR BUSINESS (AAS)

Alexa Cortes Abad

Lauren Fontaine ***

Juan Mansilla-Duque

Veronica Mcdonald ** Φ

Edith Oteng

Jimena Paucar

Chandra Ramkaran

Dalila Rodriguez

Diane Teran

Yazaira Lee Valenzuela-Vazquez *** Φ

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION-MANAGEMENT/MARKETING (AAS) BUISNESS MANAGEMENT/MARKETING (AAS) ONLINE

Destiny Amy-Bono

Luana Araya ** Φ

Anthony Attanasio *

Sana Awad *** Φ

Destiny Batts

Jessica Belton

Ambrozia Cash Φ

Philip Cole

Daniele Davis *** Φ

Qmari Felton

Kamika Grant

Jermel Howard *

Katherine Hurtado

Malikah Jackson-Morgan

LaQuinta Jones

Jocelyn Marroquin Ochoa

Kyla Matthews

Rashima Mcdonald ** Φ

Armend Mekuli

Nicholas Miles B

Alexis Rattler

Ryan M. Ricci Φ

Emmanuel Romero

Martin Rrasi

Javier Sanchez Φ

Cortney Scruggs

Elisa D. Thomas **

Bryan Tuapanta ** Φ

Sanyi Vasquez *

Candidates for Baccalaureate Degrees

ACCOUNTING (BBA)

Amin Alawadi

Crystal Garcia *** Σ

Madeline Gonzalez *** Σ

Evelyn Guanga Guallpa

Kerly Loja Toledo *** Σ

Julie Lopez Rodriguez *** Σ H

Xhem Mehaj **

Alimata Nikiema *

David Palacios

Jessica Ramirez *

Jonathan Rivera Perez

Danielle Schneider *** Σ

Judah Smith

David Torres **

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (BBA)

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION-MANAGEMENT (BBA) ONLINE

Mark Peter Agustin *** Σ

Jean Maxime Alabre

Luis Alarcon

Michael Albarracin

Marc T. Alexander ** Σ

Deborah Ansah Aidoo

Charmaine L. Bacote

Habayatou Barry

Kelly Bermeo

Brianna Blanco ** Σ

Kevon Brown B

Paola Chacha

Cherell Coleman

Katika Davis

Michele C. Dymek **

Nicole Filder *** Σ

Larissa Fils Aime **

Monique P. Green *** Σ

Sachel Harvey *

Joshual Harvin

Falone Hyppolite

Asha Kamara

Ernest Kastrati

Claudia Lopes

Kenisha Miller **

Patricia Miller

Neil Miranda

Maxime Momoti

Maria Belen Morocho Guarango **

Cathiann Murray ***

Aida M. Ortiz **

Jose Paucar

Yaileen Pazos *** Σ

Melanie Peralta Campos

Kathryn Quinn

Koranjaly Ramirez

Melina Ramos

Ky’mora Rodney

Mercedez Rodriguez

Neranyi Roman *** Σ

Steven Sanchez

William Smith **

Leslie Soto

Lissette Suarez

Ricardo Suriel

Ciaz White

INTERACTIVE DIGITAL MEDIA AND MARKETING (BBA)

Vincent Bravo

Nickolas Da Silva

Jordan Dawkins

Deyaneira Garcia *** Φ

Angela Kamara

Daniel Martinez Caballero

Aneurys Nivar

Shawn Ofurhie *** Σ

Jhan Tenesaca **

Hairo Trinidad

School of Health Professions

Candidates for Certificates

MEDICAL ASSISTANT SPECIALIST

Claudia OSullivan ***

Angela Ramirez **

Candidates for Associate Degrees

MEDICAL ASSISTANT MANAGEMENT (AAS)

Sarah Abdullah

Eman Alnuaimat

Priscilla Christian Alvarado-Rivera *** Φ

Johny Arpi **

Kevin Barrera

Kemba Bennett

Aissatou Camara

Deisy Cardenas

Angeles Castaneda *

Katherine Damian * Φ

Dionne Diallo

Ashley Edwards ** Φ

Chiamaka Ejianya *

Olivia Ellis ** Φ

Sherly Figueroa-Herrera **

Alexandra Franco * Φ

Rosa Giron-Duque *

Natalie Gonzalez *** Φ

Tamika Hall

Khadija Javid **

Ashanti Jeanty

Georgette Kelly *

Judith Leon

Dennis Mejia

Lesly Mendoza ***

Samiha Mohamed **

Sha’cora Nunez

Isaiah Osei

Shereca Palmer *** Φ

Taliyah Pemberton-Lorick ** Φ

Dayana Perez * Φ

Jose Rivera

Johanna Salinas * Φ

Camila Sarmiento

Demitria Sparks

Denasia Taylor

Trishana Tomlinson *

Amber Vasquez *** Φ

Yanique Welsh

Denisha Williams

Victor Yupanqui

HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT (AOS)

HEALTH INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION (AOS) ONLINE

Roshell Bradford

Dana Brown *** Φ

Jacqueline Disisto ** Φ

Lineda Dufresne-Paul

Ajonee Ellis *** Φ

Dearha Serena Exulus-Mica

Antoine Gomes ** Φ

Yulisa Gonzalez

Eva Graham *

Yamirka Guaba **

Kurtz Howell

Brittney Lelie ** Φ

Mirjana Lufaj ***

Kayla McKenna ***

Claudia Monteleone ***

Keishe Olivierre * Φ

Jenice Plummer

Nyiko Roberts

Brianna Simpson

Madison Stewart ***

Candidates for Baccalaureate Degrees

HEALTHCARE SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (BBA)

HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (BBA) ONLINE

Saranda Aliu ***

Dania Alwadi*** Σ H

Anea Benjamin *

Kellian Blake *** Σ

Karol Bonilla **

Sheriffa Boyd

Jasmine Cabey

Tionne Chambers-Clarke *** Σ

Anne Charadin-Noel

Yuzeth Chillogallo * H

Denise Contreras *

Jessica Correa

Renae Daley

Fatima Dias ***

Alacia Dunn **

Keara Golden

Daisy I. Gomez Σ

Pamela Hermoza **

Jessica Inniss

Henrietta Karikari Ntiamoah **

Vorapong Keowongwan *

Christelle Kirby ** Σ

Edwin A. Laboy ** Σ

Meverlie Lauture

Tylee M. Leslie-Shenk

Angelita Lopez *** Σ

Cindy Lopez *** Σ

Katherine Luna

Esther Machado

Nidera Mccallum

Rouena Mckenzie

Lilly Medina Velez

Karis B. Mejia Cruz

Brianna Mezzone *

Kerly Minchala ** Σ

Ana Nieves

Juliet Nyarkoh **

Gladis Oliva

Daysi Orellana Crespo *** Σ

Alodia Ruiz

Carolina Salazar **

Guadalupe Saldivar Barbosa **

Tracy Selaya *** Σ

JodiKay Smalling *

Kennedy Smith

Maryse Soifils-Guillaum *

Lourdes Tenezaca

Monique Thaxter

Kahlia Thomas *

Kerry-Ann Williams **

Human Services (BS)

Jade Espejel

School of Information Technology

Candidates for Associate Degrees

COMPUTER NETWORK ADMINISTRATION (AAS)

COMPUTER NETWORKING AND SECURITY (AAS) ONLINE

Joseph Badke *** Φ

Austin Ebolo **

Fabrizio Flores

Dajoni Gomez ***

Marie Gumaneh

Jaren Hatcher *

Jennifer Ramos ** Φ

Candidates for Baccalaureate Degrees

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (BS)

COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEMS (BS) ONLINE

Genevieve A. Arthur **

Tiffany M. Batista Concepcion ** Σ

Yormany Bierd

Ralph Cesar **

Dalan Chisholm

Xavier Cortez

Alan Diaz

Mam Fatou Dukuray

Solomon Ellis ** Σ B

Daniel Felix

Christopher Fletcher

Braulio R Galindo

Alberto Nicholson ***

Miguel Nouel

Allan Osavio

Niall Pariag ***